Reggie Kelly’s retirement was short-lived

Posted by Mike Florio on August 16, 2011, 10:05 AM EST

AP

Tight end Reggie Kelly worked out for the Steelers last week. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team offered Kelly a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, but Kelly opted to “stay retired.”

On Monday, Kelly worked out for the Falcons, PFT has confirmed. (The workout was first reported by Scout.com.)

So much for retirement.

Actually, Kelly never was retired. He disputed the characterization last week via Twitter, via CincyJungle.com.

Kelly spent his first four NFL seasons with the Falcons, starting all 16 games in 2000 and 2002. He joined the Bengals in 2003. After missing all of 2009 with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, Kelly appeared in all 16 games, with 14 starts, in 2010.

He was the second veteran tight end to work out for the Falcons in two days. Former Jets first-rounder Anthony Becht worked out for the Falcons on Sunday.

As to Kelly, who knows where he’ll land? With the Bengals cutting tight end Garrett Mills on Tuesday morning, maybe they’ll try to bring Kelly back for another season.

And an even better pass blocker. The reason why this guy lasted as an NFL starter for so long despite his deficiencies as a receiver is that he was basically an extra OT, he use to erase James Harrison one-on-one .